Trick more than the Treat

I had been knocking on wood for weeks now that we would not get sick. Well, our time was up and sadly it came for Halloween week/weekend. I think I was more bummed than the boys to have missed all the parties. The preschool party, ward party, Kyle's work party were all left wanting of the charm of my Three Musketeers.
That's right, for months now it has been my dream that the boys be the Three Musketeers for Halloween. I spent much of my spare time working on their costumes. It turned out to be more work than I thought, but I did get them done . . . right before they got sick. Well, after some mommy-pondering I realized it was my dream and not theirs, so I asked them to brave a few pictures and then they could be whatever they wanted to go trick-or-treating. Kekoa choose Spiderman (surprise, surprise) and Ikaika wanted to be Batman. Sepa would have been more than content with his musketeer outfit, but it looked at little sad all alone, so I stuck him in a warm frog suit. We knocked on about 8 doors and called it a night.
Though still sick, I tried to make it a fun night for the boys. Kyle brought home pizza and we made bat pumpkins and played a couple pumpkin games. I had monster cupcakes to decorate with them, but we all ran out of energy, so we saved it for Family Night instead.
Here are the pics to remember Halloween '09.

Her

Tonight, while my sister Celeste was visiting she announced she was going to sing a song on her guitar. I had no idea where it was coming from until she began her introduction. She said she had heard the song some time ago, but always knew she wanted to sing it for one of her sisters who was having a baby girl. Being that it took 9 pregnancies between my two sister's and I, Celeste had plenty of time to practice I am sure. Well, today she got her chance. It was such a precious sound to hear her play and sing. Celeste has a beautiful voice and the words of the song were so tender - for the first time since the ultrasound, I let the fact that I am finally having a girl into my heart and I just cried.
Kekoa asked, " Mom, why are you crying?"
"Because I am happy," I said.
"Then why are you crying?"
Kyle explained that sometimes you are so happy that you just have to cry.

Here are the lyrics of the song. When we finally come up with a name, I am going to ask Celeste to sing it with her name. I even want to record her and use it as the music on my photography website.

Capri by Colbie Caillat

She’s got a baby inside
And holds her belly tight
All through the night
Just so she knows
She’s sleeping so
Safely to keep
Her growing
And oh when she'll open her eyes
There'll be no surprise
That she'll grow to be
So beautifully
Just like her mother
That’s carrying
Oh Capri
She’s beauty
Baby inside she’s loving
Oh Capri
She’s beauty
There is and angel growin’ peacefully
Oh Capri
Sweet baby
And things will be hard at times
But I've learned to try
Just listening
Patiently, oh Capri
Sweet baby
Oh Capri
She’s beauty
Baby inside she’s loving
Oh Capri
Your beauty
Just like your mother
That’s carrying...Oh Capri

I know I would have been happy either way - I am just happy to be having another baby - but having a girl is such an honor for me (an explanation to that will have to be another post). I hope I can be a good example of a mother for her.

Celebrate Good Times

We celebrated Kekoa's birthday today. Poor kid couldn't understand the difference between his actual birthday and the day we'd celebrate it with a party. On Thursday he kept asking, "Mom, why aren't you decorating?" So, today he was super excited to see everything going on to get ready for the party. We made homemade pizza for lunch, played games and just enjoyed watching the boys play with as they all were transformed into Spiderman for the day.
I had fun finally taking my camera out of the bag and get some pictures. Here are a few to remember the day. Happy day. We enjoyed celebrating the 5 wonderful years Kekoa as been in our family : ) One of the best parts of the day was having my mom up from AZ as well as my sister, Jessica with her two darling boys. Having family around is always such a blessing and joy.

Offically 5

Five years ago today I became a mother for the first time. I am amazed that so much time has passed and yet, of course, can hardly imagine my life with out my boys near me every minute of the day. . . .
okay, I wanted to write more for this post, but right now I am just pleased I uploaded pictures.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Especially if the picture includes a word . . .


Yesterday, we went in for the ultra sound. And along with seeing that the baby is developing beautifully we found out we are finally getting our princess. There were big smiles from everyone in the family. Kekoa said, "I knew it was a girl." Kyle was so excited he immediately started texting the news to everyone.
So, the Reyes family is going to be turned upside down come Springtime. We are so thrilled and
excited.

Half a Decade Old

Sticking with the Super Hero theme, we are getting ready to celebrate Kekoa's fifth birthday. We almost lost the chance to celebrate it when Kekoa needed some heavy consequences for not listening to mommy about a very serious subject. But he's been a good boy and I realized that a birthday is only once a year and to a child that is a life time.
I am excited for it and hope Kekoa knows and feels how much his family loves him.

PS. We find out the day before his actual birthday, the 22nd, about the gender of the baby. Maybe it'll be a girl just for Kekoa since he has been praying for a sister faithfully even before I was pregnant.

UVU Family Night

As part of the inauguration week at UVU they hosted a free family night this evening. We enjoyed some games for the kids, free popcorn and cotton candy, some face painting and Kyle in a sumo wrestler outfit. It was quite the evening. I thought the boys looked so cute with their painted faces, I took some pictures. It actually worked out quite well for the upcoming birthday party Kekoa is going to have. I just took a few more of him by himself for his invitations.
Look at these two cute boys. The love playing super heroes all day long.

A Name

Tonight before bedtime Kekoa, Ikaika and I sat on the couch and talked about what we should name the baby. Of course being that the boys insist they have a sister, we talked about girl names. Kekoa decided on his own he wants her name to be Sarah and Ikaika votes for Polly. Not quite what I was thinking, but it was fun to talk about it with them. I am now almost 17 weeks and need to find a doctor who delivers at American Fork hospital now that we moved to Cedar Hills. If anyone knows of one they love, let me know : ) I think some prenatal care would be good right about now.
And just for memories sake, this morning I felt the baby move for the first time.

Kyle and Michele have finally left the nest.

In the 6 years Kyle and I have been married we have never lived more than a block off Center street in Provo (that includes three different homes). Not something we planned or insisted on, it just happened to work out that way. So, when we knew we were moving to Cedar Hills we felt a little like we were growing up some more and really entering a new phase of life.
It was a crazy, sticky process to buy this home with new home buying procedures and it ending up as a short sale. I think we had to jump through about every hoop possible. But when it finally came and we were in the home, it felt wonderful. We are so excited to have our new home.

I still need to take some pictures of the inside. We are all still in boxes, minus the kitchen. But here are some of the things I love about this new home.

• an open front room and kitchen (spacious floor plan)
• a happy kitchen with beautiful wood work ( it's fun to keep clean)
• all the bedrooms on one level (I have to be near my babies)
• room to grow with an unfinished basement
• laundry room upstairs with the bedrooms (hallelujah)
• an amazing view of the valley including the Timpanogos temple (seriously breathtaking)
• an enclosed backyard I can send the boys to play in (though we need to get window well covers ASAP)
• a jetted tub in the master bath as well as a walk-in shower (never seen a shower I liked so much)
• two balconys
• recess lighting every where (love the effect it gives)
• a gorgeous fireplace that lights with the flip of a switch
• stainless steel appliances
• an actual room just for food storage (no excuses now : )
• it's west facing so we have beautiful shade in back for summer dinners outside

Okay, you get the idea. I love our new home. I am excited to live wonderful memories here with a family I love with all my heart.
And if you are in the area, come and visit : )